THE ABOLITION OF TOLL GATES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 December 1924, Page 4

THE ABOLITION OF TOLL GATES

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l have noted that the unfairness of the dual taxation which motorists must pay is now becoming more generally felt. At Monday’s meeting or tlie Haw era Borough OounciL one member considered Cr. tSurdekin’s motion unnecessary, as be understood tiiat at least one gate would go on March 31. My opinion of these gates is so well kliown in Egnicnt and also to legislative representatives m adjoining counties that further commentt snereon is superfluous. However, sir, there is one point upon .which i desire to say a word. It is this: As the system of motor taxation comes into force on January I, 1925, then any money, from that date taken in tolls is an injustice. There should be no* such extension to the 31st March. I ask the public •‘Are you going to tolerate itH” What I now say is said without njalice or prejudice to any individual, but with a desire to alleviate the burden from which ■ the ratepayers to the county I represent are suffering, i At the meeting held in Stratford to consider the toll gates some months back, and at which I represented the County of Egmont, a resolution was finally carried asking the Highways Board to abolish and also in some adequate measure to compensate those counties who had already constructed permanent highways. Mr J. B. Murdoch subsequently moved a further resolution : “That the counties which had gates be given an opportunity to individually place their side, of the case before the Board.” I thereupon insisted that those counties who were the victims of the gate system -should likewise, have an opportunity to also- state their case. This was agreed to, though Mr .Murdoch said that there was no need for us, as the Board already knew the position. Sir, I understand that a committee from the Highways Board did met those counties who have gates, but those adjoining were not consulted. This I .know, as I was with the county ■chairman appointed a committee to deal with the matter.

One member of the Highways Beard is Mr J. S. Connett. He is also chairman to the Taranaki County Council, and it has a gate which collects a heavy toll right on the Egmont boundary. . . . .

Sir, I recognise in Messrs .Murdoch and Connett able and shrewd men. Like myself, they are out to protect those ratepayers which they directly represent. Still, although these gentlemen’s honour and integrity is unquestioned, can they in the circumstances be impartial. First an injustice was done by only consulting or hearing one side of the case, and, secondly, a further injustice is inflicted upon the travelling public end the inhabitants of Waiinate and Egmont in particular, when even an hour’s grace was granted. Mr Walters said at Stratford that, provided they were allowed to .complete their main road, he would then be willing to abolish the Waipuku gate. In reply to a question asked by myself, he said that £90,000 had been borrowed for road construction, and the ratepayers would not tolerate a fresh loan. At the moment I was then under the impression that all this : loan was to construct a new Mountain road, but I have subsequently heard that other roads were also construtted out of' it, or are to be so constructed. This being so, I say to these counties do what Egmont has to do— construct out of loan and trust to get a share of Government subsidy. -However, be this all as it may, the fact remains that, these three particular counties are really the main objectors td the’ abolition 6f the gates. Mr Belcher, chairman of the Eltham County, stated that he was no lover of the gate, and provided some means could be devised to compensate them for the great outlay and upkeep of their highways, lie would favour their abolition. This all is a matter of adjustment between the Highways Board and the particular counties concerned, hut it should in no wise give these counties a prerogative to inflict an unjust tax upon their neighbours. I feel, sir, that the hour has come for. councils and boroughs and individuals to make an emphatic and definite. stand and clear the gates out of existence. Mr Bur dekin is right; to pay ope toll beyond the end of December would be weakness on our part as citizens -of a liberty-lowing nation. We are all. taken generally, law-abid-ing and peaceful people; yet there are times when inaction can be our hurt. Then. sir. it now behoves those in . authority to call public meetings and ask that this injustice be removed.—l am, etc., '

J. S. TOSLAND Pih:una, Dae. 16, 1924.